Global Discourse on Kashmir 2006

Global Discourse on Kashmir 2008

Global Discourse on Kashmir 2011

Chairman's Vision

Not surprisingly I would like to talk about the international Council for Human Rights (ICHR) given the fact that I am the chair of this organisation. Pursuant to our mission ICHR is committed to provide assistance to the United Nations and its affiliated organs in the promotion and observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to work for fundamental freedoms and world peace. Indeed, ICHR is meticulously fulfilling its mission and objectives. ICHR has facilitated and coordinated the efforts of oppressed peoples, minorities, unrepresented peoples and nations. For instance, we have extended expert and technical assistance to minority groups such as African Americans, Dalits, Sami, Gullah-Geechees, Chiapas, Puerto-Ricans, Uighurs as well as unrepresented peoples including Kashmiris (we are engaged in a special project for Kashmiris) Quebecois, Palestinians and many more. ICHR has also provided its assistance to the international community by organizing international conferences, seminars and roundtables on the topics relevant to the day.

However, it is about time that ICHR need to find new vigor to affectively meet the growing demands on the organisation. It is crucial for our organisation to develop greater sense of trust and common purpose with our partners, governments, civil societies and non government organisations engaged in the work of fundamental freedoms and world peace. Of course, we recognise that greater flexibility has to be demonstrated to the changing circumstances and the key for this is collective responsibility by engaging in enhanced coordination with our partners in delivering results. I believe there are three crucial issues, which are currently under consideration in the United Nations and its affiliated organisations, which require strategic focus in order to achieve balanced results.

First, the new Human Rights Council must meet the heightened expectations of oppressed peoples, minorities, unrepresented peoples and nations. We must ensure that the council does so with a renewed commitment towards greater respect for human dignity and enlargement of fundamental freedoms. For this the council is urged to incorporate in its agenda the peoples right to self-determination and we need to firmly commit ourselves to delivering this. Second, terrorism is seen by many as the greatest security challenge of our times. In the wake of 9/11, the trend among States has been to move away from recognition of the fundamental rights and freedoms and increasingly to view individuals and groups seeking those rights within the new context of the ‘War on Terror’. The United Nations is on the move in presenting to the world a comprehensive convention against international terrorism. We should muster the resolve and solidarity to ensure that any ensuing convention against international terrorism, which may be adopted by the General Assembly, does not interfere with the peoples fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the International Bill of Rights. Third, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is in progress in terms the target being 2015. But it has to be born in mind that the development goes hand in hand with security and human rights as such there has to be renewed commitment, for the United Nations to exercise its moral authority, that human sufferings should be alleviated and human dignity safeguarded at all times. We need to mobilise political will to achieve this.

The heads of state at the United Nations for the World Summit reaffirmed– ‘the vital importance of a multilateral system’. We all must make this world safe by renewing the three pillars of the United Nations - peace and security, development and human rights for ourselves and for our future generations.